Page 3

Chapter Three

NONE OF THEM ARE JUNIE

~~Levi~~

It’s game seven of the first round of the playoffs, and I’m understandably nervous. Tonight, our season ends, or we advance to round two of four. Hockey playoffs are a long, exhausting grind, but it’s what we live for. Every hockey player’s ultimate goal is to win the Cup. I’m no different. I’ve dreamed of hoisting it over my head while I do a circuit around the ice to the cheering of adoring fans. The Sockeyes won the Cup four years ago, and some of my teammates were on that team. I’ve listened to their stories and how they felt after that final buzzer. I want that feeling. Hell, I crave that feeling.

With renewed determination, I park my car in the underground parking garage in the bowels of the arena and walk briskly down a long hallway toward the locker room. Before entering, I take a detour into the players’ lounge. I’m early, and it’s empty except for our goalie Vick Marshall. He’s been incredible during this playoff run after stepping in when Brick, our number one goalie, sustained a season-ending injury.

“Hey, my man, how’s it going?” I slap Vick on the back and grin to hide my nerves, coming off as if I haven’t a care in the world. This is my usual MO, and it serves me well. The people around me assume I’m an unserious party boy who cares only about women and hockey. That’s partially true, but there’s more to me than anyone will ever know.

Well, except for one person. Juniper. I still feel like a shit for how I ended it. In order to live with my actions, I’m telling myself she’s like me and didn’t want a relationship either. She took it well except when I insulted her age. She’s six years older than me, but truthfully, it’d never really mattered. Lying about my reasons was not one of my finest moments, but my rudeness also guarantees we’ll never start up our relationship together again. Protecting my secrets and weaknesses is essential to my mental health.

Celeste, a former fling of mine, must’ve gotten the word, as she’s putting on the pressure more than usual. She doesn’t give a damn about the real me, only that I am a hockey player and have money and a modicum of fame, especially in the Seattle area. She’s been around the block and is great in the sack, but her personality leaves a lot to be desired. She’s also clingy, demanding, and high maintenance.

I’ve always been a guy who plays the field. I’m not into having one girlfriend. Celeste is pushy and persistent, but I ignore her for the most part. I’m concentrating solely on the playoffs and don’t need her special brand of drama.

I sigh heavily as I remind myself that the sex with Juniper had been epic. Celeste or any other woman would never be able to measure up.

“You okay?” Vick cocks his head and studies me.

“Uh, yeah. I’m fine.” I scramble to gloss over my obvious frustration. “Just nervous about the game.”

“Aren’t we all?” Vick manages a grin.

“How’s it going with Inga?” Vick’s girlfriend was married to a former teammate who’d been abusive and controlling. He helped her get out of that situation, and they fell in love. They’re both good people, and I’m a little bit envious of their closeness, even though I don’t want the same thing.

“Fantastic. She moved in over the weekend.”

“I’m happy for the both of you,” I say, because it’s what’s expected. I’ll be the first to admit I’m a selfish guy and rarely concern myself with teammates’ personal lives. Inga was Juniper’s roommate. Now Junie is all alone in her apartment now that Inga has moved out. I wonder how she’s handling it at the same time I chide myself for worrying about her.

“Things going okay with you?” He scrutinizes me carefully. I can only assume he knows the entire story since Inga and Juniper are besties.

“Great.” My enthusiasm leaves a lot to be desired, but Vick chooses not to comment. A few more guys walk in, and I gravitate to the spread of food on the counter. It’s not up to the team’s usual standards for a pregame snack. In fact, it looks like one of the guys bought a bunch of stuff from a deli rather than our usual fare created by the team chef. I pop some carrot sticks in my mouth and chew.

“Is Chef John sick or what?” Felix, my linemate, nudges me aside with an elbow.

“Looks like it. He definitely didn’t cook this crap.”

We share a laugh and quickly sober when our team captain, Ice, enters the room. I’m embarrassed to admit he scares me a little. Ice is the most intimidating defenseman in the league in my opinion. I’m grateful he’s on my team.

“He’s gone,” Ice informs us.

“Who’s gone? Chef John?” Easton Black enters the conversation. He’s a good guy, but I don’t know him well. He’s got kids and isn’t much of a partier, so our paths rarely cross outside of the rink. His wife Caroline is Junie’s best friend, but she’s never liked me much.

“Yeah. He quit abruptly last night. Not sure why. Some kind of disagreement with management.”

Ice doesn’t provide any additional information. Obviously, something went sideways, and now we’re stuck with this crap. A few guys grumble about how we need better nourishment than this in the playoffs. I don’t blame them. Everything the Sockeyes do is first-class, so substandard food is unexpected, and we’re probably all a little spoiled.

“The team is working hard to find an adequate replacement as quickly as they can.” Ice leaves us and wanders over to a few of our battle-tested veterans. Due to injuries, this team has an unusually large contingent of young guys. Many of us are untested rookies when it comes to the playoffs.

I gnaw on an overcooked piece of unidentifiable meat and toss it in the garbage, opting for a protein bar instead. At least they’re palatable.

I leave my disgruntled teammates behind and exit the lounge, only to run into Juniper. She’s fidgeting in the hallway, obviously waiting for someone, probably one of the WAGs. I pause for a moment and drink her in. She’s stunning with her long auburn hair and tall, statuesque figure. She’s one of those striking women who turns heads wherever she goes. My heart gives a little thump against my rib cage. I hate my reaction, yet I can’t seem to control how she makes my body sing whenever I lay eyes on her.

I nod as I walk by, treating her like a casual acquaintance when she’s anything but. I catch a whiff of her alluring perfume, and my dick is rock hard instantly. Junie does that to me. Ours was a hot and tempestuous relationship, the kind where one of us was destined to emerge with third-degree burns if it lasted long enough, which thanks to my cowardice, it didn’t.

My feet stop moving, despite my best intentions. “How’re you doing, Junie?” I ask, keeping my tone neutral and hoping she doesn’t notice the boner I’m sporting. My gaze locks onto her lips, and I recall all the naughty things those lips have done to me.

“Fine, and you?” Her tone is accusatory, and I snap my focus to her deep green eyes. She caught me red-handed, and my face heats with embarrassment. Junie smirks slightly before her expression falls, which isn’t like her at all, alerting me to trouble that goes beyond her and myself. After all, our final breakup was somewhat mutual, or so I tell myself. Besides, does it count as a breakup since we were never exclusive?

“Good. You sure everything’s okay?” I might be young and cocky, but I’m not 100 percent an asshole, and I’m worried about her. Something’s very wrong.

“Positive.” Junie waves her hand in the air to dismiss my concerns. Then she abandons me for a very pregnant Caro Black, who appears from the team family room.

I smile and nod at Caro, and she returns the gesture but curtly. I’m pretty sure she’s blaming me for what happened between Junie and me.

I watch longingly as the two of them walk toward the elevator. My gaze slides to Junie’s fine ass in those tight jeans. I swallow and close my eyes for a moment. My body wants what I will not let it have. Any other woman on the face of this earth is fair game, just not this one.

“Don’t let Celeste see you lusting after your ex like that. She’ll deliver your balls to you on a silver platter.”

I jump, startled by the voice behind me. I’m appalled my longing for Junie is so transparent. I whip around to confront Jaden Brooks with a scowl. He snorts so hard he chokes.

“I wasn’t lusting, and I’m not with Celeste.”

“That’s not what Celeste says.” Jaden smirks, not fooled by my bullshit. He’s an obnoxious, conceited, overconfident jerk who’s a shit ton of fun to party with. So I tolerate his less desirable qualities. We’ve been each other’s wingman on several occasions, even tried the trick from Top Gun by singing “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’.” Our rendition earned us the interest of every woman in the bar. It’d been an epic night. I’d have never guessed Jaden could sing. He can’t just sing. He knocks it out of the park.

“You can’t fool me, Widdie. I saw what I saw. Why did you choose Celeste over Junie anyway? I’d bet my best pair of skates Junie’s way more fun. Celeste is too high maintenance.”

He would know. He’s been with Celeste before, as has half the team. Junie’s had her share of hookups with my teammates, too, not that I ever cared and not while we were seeing each other. In fact, not since I made the team at the beginning of the season.

I’m a rookie, and I hate being reminded. Junie never cared. Celeste, on the other hand, gave me the impression on more than one occasion that she’s always looking to upgrade. Shit, she’s a female version of myself. Isn’t that what I did with Junie? Or at least what I told her by saying she was too old and boring? Both necessary lies to cut ties permanently. I shudder at the thought I might be that shallow, yet I probably am.

“Junie and I had an arrangement. That’s all it was. She’s a lot of fun.” Despite my tendency to be an asshole at times, I don’t kiss and tell.

“Then you won’t mind if I ask her out?”

“Suit yourself.” I shrug as if what he does with Junie is no concern of mine, but inside my stomach ties itself in knots, and jealousy rears its ugly head. My hands curl into fists, and I hope he doesn’t notice my reaction.

“Cool.” He grins and gives me that look I’ve seen many times from him. He’s already planning his attack. Junie won’t go out with him, even for a quick hookup. I’m pretty sure of that. Or I think I am. He’s too young and immature for her, but I guess she can say that about me too.

Rex thumps Jaden on the back of the head with a soccer ball, and the chase is on. I watch as the two of them race down the hall. A few short days ago, I’d have been in the middle of the scrum, but today my heart’s not in it.

I’m behaving as if I’m as old as our captain. He’s not the oldest guy on the team, but he acts like it. I’m young and have my entire career and life ahead of me. So why am I sulking about Junie? There are plenty of other women in Seattle.

But none of them are Junie.